Heat in the "cockpit"

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

HOT IS HOT OR MAYBE NOT - HaHa

Mike, I know that you are blessed to live in one of the blissfully cooler more tree covered road regions of the country, and I think this has more to do with what each of us individuals thinks "hot" is. (I know you bring your Spyder down to Springfield too, but If a chocolate bar or energy bar melts in the glove box, it's too hot. If you never carry items like that in your glove box, then it's not a concern. Same with Jack's perspective and all those that have never had a heat issue.

I'd measure mine with a thermometer tomorrow when I take my wife out for (her choice) Mother's day Ribs and Ice Cream way over in Wisconsin, but it's barely gonna get in the 70's.
Riding with a buddy with a unvented 2012. Maybe we can two matching thermometers tonight and test them.

By the way, DO ANY OF you have the Insulated glove box liner still in? Mine took up so much space I yanked it .

Dave I said in an earlier post I have ridden my 1330 RT at 100 degree's F , and SpyderAnn rides a lot at that temp and higher ..... a chocolate will start to melt at 95 * F ...... have you considered the HUMAN body is 98* F ? .............. there's a whole lot of difference between warm & Hot ......As an LEO, I had to rescue quite a few Dogs in cars that were well over 120* F and the motor was not running ..... maybe U.P. is correct and nothing is wrong with the Spyder just the person ...... Mike :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[Easy Rider]

Have you asked your dealer to take a look at it yet?
The 1330s just aren't known for this problem... :dontknow:

THIS.

But you need to understand that the inside of your CAR can get hotter than 116F when it is just sitting out in the sun.

 

[Bob Denman]

I was one of the loudest proponents of the theory that this issue (Other than for the 2013 RTs...) is more a case of unreasonable expectations; than it was anything else. nojoke
IF the owner of the Spyder is a Rider with some experience with these mounts: there MIGHT BE something going on...

But if it's a newbie who's used to driving around in air-conditioned comfort: they need to realize that you don't always get everything that you want... :dontknow:


And as far as trying to compare it to a closed-up car in the Sun: :shocked::hun:

 

[UtahPete]

I was one of the loudest proponents of the theory that this issue (Other than for the 2013 RTs...) is more a case of unreasonable expectations; than it was anything else. nojoke

To clarify my position on this;

1. I don't think there is a 'heat problem' with the post- 2013 RTs, in the sense that BRP has an obligation to 'fix' it.
2. I do think that, like many bikes with fully bodywork, there can be a build-up of heat under the bodywork, particularly the 'cockpit area'
3. I think experienced riders (of all kinds of bikes) probably accept it as part of the motorcycling experience
4. I think those that are relatively new to motorcycling are bothered by the heat and would like to find a way to reduce the cockpit temperature
5. I believe the '13 fix by BRP can also bring benefit to the later models with the 1330 engine in reducing cockpit heat

Nobody is bashing the 1330 RTs as being unacceptably hot in the cockpit area. At least, I'm not. But, if there's an easy fix for what some find bothersome, why not try it? It costs less than a pair of LED headlights if you do the work yourself.

 

[Easy Rider]

To clarify my position on this;

1. I don't think there is a 'heat problem' with the post- 2013 RTs, in the sense that BRP has an obligation to 'fix' it.

In general, no doubt true.

But one should NOT gloss over the possibility that a given individual machine might have some kind of factory defect making matters worse that BRP would be obligated to fix.

Oh, and WalMart bags are EVERYWHERE. Having one stuck to the intake grill is not out of the question.

 

[UtahPete]

In general, no doubt true.

But one should NOT gloss over the possibility that a given individual machine might have some kind of factory defect making matters worse that BRP would be obligated to fix.

Oh, and WalMart bags are EVERYWHERE. Having one stuck to the intake grill is not out of the question.

Good point, ER

 

[jcthorne]

Having dealt with this on Louise bike and a few customers bikes...they are all the same. The heat just bothers some more than others.

That said, adding the 2013 intake vents and replacing the acoustic panels with the strut does make the glove box and heat at the forward end of the seat much less hot. Its a significant reduction.

There is nothing wrong with the bikes, and they are FAR better than the V-twin RTs that preceded them. But some still find the heat that is present uncomfortable and adding the 13 scoops does help a good deal.

 

[UtahPete]

Having dealt with this on Louise bike and a few customers bikes...they are all the same. The heat just bothers some more than others.

That said, adding the 2013 intake vents and replacing the acoustic panels with the strut does make the glove box and heat at the forward end of the seat much less hot. Its a significant reduction.

There is nothing wrong with the bikes, and they are FAR better than the V-twin RTs that preceded them. But some still find the heat that is present uncomfortable and adding the 13 scoops does help a good deal.

Good to hear from someone who knows what they're talking about. nojoke

 

[RinconRyder]

But you need to understand that the inside of your CAR can get hotter than 116F when it is just sitting out in the sun.

The closed inside of a sedan sitting in the summer sun in my area can easily exceed 140F. And it takes less than an hour to reach that temp.

 

[viiiball]

Thank you for all your input

I want to thank everyone for their input to my original post. And in my OP I misidentified the year of the original bike, it was a 2011 RT Limited, not a 2013.

This is not a case of coming from an air conditioned car to a motorcycle. With that said, we have 7 years of riding comparison and we can unequivocally state that the heat coming up through the seat and the temp in the glove box is WAY higher in the 2017 RT Limited than we experienced with the 2102. The glove box was usable with the 2012 and NOT with the 2017. The 2102 had little noticeable heat flowing up through the merging of the seat and the body work. The 2017, there is VERY noticeable heat coming up through the seat.

I have the RT Vent Kit on order at Pitbull Powersports and once that comes in I will be talking with them about this issue. I cannot return to the original dealer to have this addressed since we no longer "live" near that (or any) dealer. We live in a RV and travel the country so we do not have a relationship with any one dealer.

Again, thank you to everyone but please understand I need to find a resolution to a real issue, not a perceived one. Hoping that the vent kit or something else that Pitbull can address for us will reduce the heat my wife is experiencing in her cockpit.

 

[Easy Rider]

I have the RT Vent Kit on order at Pitbull Powersports and once that comes in I will be talking with them about this issue.

Good luck with that.

I think the prudent thing to do would have been to talk to them about it and let them give it a quick look.......BEFORE you spent any money on a guess. The thing is still under warranty, after all.

AND......I don't think that anybody here is trying to say that your wife should "just get over it".
What we ARE trying to say.....collectively.....is that there might actually be something wrong with your specific machine because virtually NO other owner of that model has a serious problem like that.

 

[RinconRyder]

What color are (were) the two bikes?
Everyone experiences heat sensations differently.
There is nothing about the 1330 bikes, that would make them more prone to a heat issue. In fact: they were designed to reduce complaints of excess heat... :dontknow:

I was wondering about this too. I have a 2016 RTL and even in very warm Arizona do not have anything resembling a heat issue.

 

[Easy Rider]

Went on a long ride yesterday; Florida....hot and humid.
I "tested" the glove box and surrounding area a few times and it DOES get hotter than I thought.

But it is not a problem while moving....and not any worse than 2 wheels with the exposed engine right under you when you stop.

To the OP: Before spending a lot of time and money, run your hand over the space between the front of the seat and the back of the glove box. I had a significant hot air flow coming out there and fixed that with some stick-on weather strip. Of course that won't last forever and will need to be replaced once a year or so probably.

 

[Lew L]

Haven't had a problem with heat in the glove box------- but I did put a thin piece of foam on the bottom of the glove box to keep the protective device form bouncing around. When off the bike it's in my pocket or on my belt. Maybe it's not hot enough in Nevada ------ but we did hit plenty of heat last summers trip and WILL get plenty of heat this trip to the southwest. A vented windshield keeps the humans cool enough.

Lew L

 

[Flamewinger]

Curious what added accessories the bike has? Any grills in the front? Heat shields that might block air flow? Is this a used bike or bought new? What coolant is used? In the Goldwings, the use of a coolant with silicates caused the water pump to go bad. Not sure if the Ace engine is similar?

I have just over 3300 miles on my 2018 and the chapstick in my glove box is fine. I've had a few days of 90+ temps in the California Central Valley with no problems. Air flow is a big deal and anything that slows that flow can make a difference. Guessing you're using the right coolant, plugs, oil etc. Not sure but can the gas octane make a difference in engine temp?

 

[canamjhb]

I had some Tupperware off today. The area around the center consul box has a lot of Styrofoam. I couldn't see how any more insulation could be added. In fact, I was impressed by all the heat insulation on the Tupperware panels too. I am 2nd owner and maybe the PO added extra insulation but it does look factory installed.....

 

[viiiball]

Curious what added accessories the bike has? Any grills in the front? Heat shields that might block air flow? Is this a used bike or bought new? What coolant is used?

This is a completely stock bike except for the vented windshield so there is nothing as far as accessories that would be causing this heat. The engine is not overheating at all so not sure how coolant could be affecting this.

 

[viiiball]

Heat gun readings

The RV Vent Kit came into Pitbull Powersports this morning so I we will be riding up there to get it tomorrow. Don't have an opening in Service until 6/7 and we will have left the area so going to have to either install myself or find another dealer along our travels to install for me.

But, we did go out riding with my newly purchased heat gun. It was 86 degrees and cloudy. Heat right under the seat, next to the oil dip stick registered 135 degrees. This is the heat she feels coming up through the intersection of the seat and the bodywork.

 

[DGoebel]

Post overlap, I started typing, asking if it was in as you must have been hitting transmit on your post above, and didn't see your post until after I sent mine. Good example of the heat differential. I'd get some comparisons of glove box versus external ambient as well. Then after you scoop it, check again and post the differences.

 

[viiiball]

Viiiball, has the '13 vent kit been installed yet? I thought you were travelling through the Springfield area and trying to get it done while there.

As I posted above, the part just came in today and Pitbull has no openings in the service department until 6/7 and we leave the area on 6/5